Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits Of The '80s, Vol. 1

Various Artists - Alternative - New Wave, New Wave Hits Of The '80s (Series)

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 21, 1994)
• Original Release Date: June 21, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B0000033AP
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #87,043 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
It seems like only yesterday that MTV signed on with the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star." But it's been long enough to inspire a comprehensive collection on Rhino Records recalling the tunes that got us through the Reagan years. The first five volumes of Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Hits of the '80s compile songs ranging from influential ("Pop Muzak" by M and "Money" by the Flying Lizards), to dumb fun ("I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow and "Turning Japanese" by the Vapors), to shoulda-stayed-forgotten ("I Ran (So Far Away)" by Flock of Seagulls and "Love Plus One" by Haircut 100). The weird thing is how current it all sounds. In no time at all, we'll be listening to We're All Losers, Baby: Alternative Rock Wonders of the '90s, featuring similar throwaways by Radiohead, Blind Melon, Beck, and Crash Test Dummies. --Jim DeRogatis

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Riding The Wave, July 17, 2001

By	Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

The first volume of Rhino's New Wave Dance Hits collection is a superb collection of songs that range from big hits to obscure gems. "My Sharona" by The Knack was the number one single of the year from 1979 and despite the fact that never became the new Beatles, the song is a classic with it's hypnotic, thumping bass line and adolescent lyrics. Blondie's obsessive "One Way Or Another" has a punk sneer with a pop gloss. The Buggles' "Video Killed The Radio Star" is best known as the first video ever played on MTV, but it is a fun song that has held up well over the years. Veteran rocker Dave Edmunds does a roaring version of Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk" while Graham Parker has fun on the sprightly "Local Girls". Rock Horror star Tim Curry does a credible job on "I Do The Rock" and The Flying Lizards put a new spin on the old chestnut "Money (That's What I Want)". The set would be worth buying alone for Nick Lowe's power pop masterpiece "Cruel To Be Kind". The song was Mr. Lowe's lone hit in the US and is a perfectly crafted piece of music that stands up against anything to come out this era.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rhino Gets Its Hands Dirty..., May 15, 2000

By	Alf Kremer (Denver CO) - See all my reviews

...daring to release a huge 15 volume set of New Wave/No Wave music from the late 70's thru the 80's. Most of the songs on this first volume should probably better be called "postpunk" than "new wave", but let's not get hung up on words. The first five tracks make this album worth the money alone - Blondie's stellar "One Way or Another", Plastic Bertrand's one shining moment "Ca Plane Pour Moi" and so forth. The rest of the album is perhaps spottier - hitting notable highs ("Money (That's What I Want)", "Video Killed the Radio Star") and some not-so-highs ("I Do the Rock", where Tim Curry sounds like he's trying really hard to be cool). An excellent start to an excellent series. Odd note - this series doesn't contain the Depeche Mode song "Just Can't Get Enough" on it...but then again, EMI's LIVING IN OBLIVION series didn't contain the Anything Box song "Living in Oblivion". Hm.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Irresistable Time Capsule From Hell, March 29, 2000

By	Ken Cook (Chelmsford, MA USA) - See all my reviews

Since all of these songs date from 1979, the title "New Wave Hits of the '80s" is a little misleading but subsequent volumes in this excellent series explore that era in depth. If you were around a radio during the latter half of 1979, then this disk will be like going back in time. To a time where disco still ruled, Jimmy Carter was in the White House and inflation was something like 20 percent. Time capsule from hell!

But what a collection of catchy songs. "Ca Plane Pour Moi" hits you like a freight train with it's endless chords and nonsense lyrics (even in French.) "Warm Leatherette" by The Normal makes even Ric Ocasek (of The Cars) seem warm and fuzzy by comparison. The excellent "One Way Or Another" by Blondie is one of the few songs on this set you still might hear on the radio today.

I was really into this kind of music back in 1979 but I found a few tracks on this disk that even I didn't know about (and they are quite good): "Too Young To Date" by D-Day for example, how did I ever miss that one! The lyrics have to be heard to be believed.

Standouts on this disk are as follows: "Hey, St. Peter" by Flash And The Pan is an excellent track that should have gotten more airplay back then. "Local Girls" by Graham Parker and "Girls Talk" by Dave Edmunds are worth the price of this disk all by themselves. Then you have monster hits like "Cruel To Be Kind" by Nick Lowe and "My Sharona" by the Knack (is it possible to get tired of hearing this song?)

You got the very first clip ever to be played on MTV ("Video Killed The Radio Star" by The Buggles) and the bar band classic "Dirty Water" by the Inmates. You got Tim Curry doing the name-dropping classic "I Do The Rock." Even the Ramones make an appearance with "Rock & Roll High School."

The disk ends with the infectious "Money (That's What I Want)" by the Flying Lizards. The only reason I give this four stars and not five is because of the inclusion of a couple of marginal tracks that really have no place here such as the very lame cover of The Monkees "I'm A Believer" by Tin Huey. If you were anywhere near a radio in 1979, you've got to get this disk!